Deals of the Day: Dell Approves Retention Bonuses

Deals of the Day compiles this morning’s biggest news about mergers and acquisitions, banking, bankruptcy and more. Catch us on Twitter, @WSJDealJournal.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Dell Approves Retention Bonuses: Dell disclosed that its board approved a $91.1 million special bonus pool as retention bonuses for some of its executives, as the computer maker tries to hold on to key personnel while it pursues a $24.4 billion buyout deal. [WSJ]

Investors Cheer Caesars Spinoff Plan: Investors rallied around casino giant Caesars Entertainment after the company said it would split off a portion of its interactive business and some other assets to form a new company in a $1.2 billion deal. [WSJ]

ICE-NYSE: EU antitrust regulators will examine IntercontinentalExchange Inc's (ICE.N) $8.2 billion (5.3 billion pounds) takeover of NYSE Euronext (NYX.N) in line with a request from the exchange operators themselves, a spokesman for the European Commission said on Wednesday. [Reuters]

BlackRock Shelves Platform for Bonds: Rather than offer its own trading platform for corporate bonds, the giant money manager is expected to announce it will offer clients the option to trade through MarketAxess Holdings. [WSJ]

Legal & Regulatory

Corzine Sued Over MF Global: The trustee overseeing MF Global’s bankruptcy sued former Chief Executive Jon S. Corzine and two other executives for their role in the brokerage’s collapse. [WSJ]

Capital Markets

Nike Aces $1 Billion Offering: Investor demand is high for Nike’s new $1 billion corporate-bond offering, its first sale since 2003. [WSJ]

Bankruptcy & Restructuring

How the Wheels Came Off for Fisker: Barring a last minute rescue, electric-car maker Fisker is poised to become a symbol of overreaching when emboldened by government loans and this era’s DeLorean. [WSJ]

Penney Taps AlixPartners:J.C. Penney is working with turnaround firm AlixPartners to help identify cost savings and manage cash flow as the struggling retailer pursues a new loan to shore up its finances, people familiar with the matter said. [WSJ]

Companies & Industries

Apple Snaps Growth Streak: Apple quieted fears that its gadgets have lost their edge, reporting strong demand for its iPhones and iPads, but posted its first profit drop in a decade and signaled that new products may not arrive as quickly as investors hope. [WSJ]